In Luxembourgish the word wéi has several meanings and different usages. The first phrases you learn in your learning journey are: Wéi geet et? or Wéi heeschs du?
In these examples Wéi is a question word and translates into How. But this is only one meaning of this word.
So discover today the different meanings of “Wéi” in Luxembourgish – I will break down how this tricky word is used and understood in everyday language. And you’ll learn how “Wéi” works in real conversations — by putting it into practice with sample phrases & questions
Wéi - a question word
1. Wéi laang ….? – How long …?
- Wéi laang gees du gewéinlech lafen? – How long do you usually go running?
2. Wéi oft / dacks…? – How often …?
- Wéi oft / dacks gees du lafen? – How often do you go running?
3. Wéi eng / Wéi een ……? – Which …?
- Wéi eng Sprooche schwätzt Dir? – Which languages do you speak?
- Wéi een Dessert wëlls du gär? – Which dessert would you like?
4. Wéi vill ….? How much/many ….?
- Wéi vill kascht dat? – How much does this cost?
- Wéi vill Auer ass et? – What time is it?
I often hear my students use the word dann when comparing things / persons. But that’s not the correct word. In Luxembourgish we use the term wéi:
- méi kleng wéi – smaller than
- méi séier wéi – faster than
- esou flott wéi – as beautiful as
Learn all about the comparative form in this lesson.
Beispiller (examples)
- Mäin neie Brëll ass grad esou schéin wéi deen alen. – My new glasses are as beautiful as the old ones
- Dëse Coiffer ass besser wéi deen a mengem Quartier. – This hairdresser is better than the one in my area
- Den Zuch fir op Bréissel ass manner bequeem wéi dee fir op Paräis – The train to Brussel is less comfortable than the one to Paris.
- Wéi ech jonk war, sinn ech oft bei meng Boma an d’Vakanz gaang. – When I was young, I often went on vacation to my grand-mother.
- Wéi ech d’lescht Woch krank war, sinn ech doheem bliwwen. – When I was sick last week, I stayed at home.
Learn more about this meaning of wéi in my online course Luxembourgish Level B1.1
1. wéi hunn – to have a pain
- Ech hunn oft de Kapp wéi. – I often have a headache.
2. wéidoen – to hurt
- Wou deet et dir wéi? – Where does it hurt you?
- Mamma, de Pol huet mir wéigedoen . – Mum, Pol hurt me!
- Wéi kanns du nëmmen dat iessen. – How on earth can you eat this?
- Wéi kanns du nëmmen dat soen? – How on earth can you say that?
Du gleefs net, wéi gär ech Kéistaart iessen. – You can’t believe, how much (to what degree) I like to eat cheesecake.
Translate the following sentences into Luxembourgish
- My mother has a headache almost every day. Meng Mamm huet bal all Dag Kappwéi
- When we were on vacation, we had breakfast at 10 am. Wéi mir an der Vakanz waren, hu mir um 10 Auer moies Kaffi gedronk.
- How many hours a week do you (form) learn Luxembourgish? Wéi vill Stonnen pro Woch léiert Dir Lëtzebuergesch?
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